Electric tramway or street-railway.



Patented Dec'. 24, |901.

w. B. sfAYERs. ELECTRIC TRAMWAY 0R STREET RAILWAY.-`

(Applictiun led Jan. 21, 1901,)

(No Model.)

ssheets-shaet No. 689,653. y l Patented Dec.'24, IQDI. w. B. SAYEBS.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY 0R STREET RAILWAY.

i (Application mea Jan. 21, 1901.)

(no Model.; 5 sheets-sheet 2.

@mme/3 Patented Dec. 24, 190|.

w. s. sAvEns. ELECTRIC TRAMW'AY 0R STREET RAILWAY.

(Application med nu. 21, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(llo Model.)

114: pangs Perzns cov, moaumm wnsmnoou, n. c.

No. 689,653. v Patented Dec. V24, |90I'.v

" W. B. SAYERS. Y

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY UH STREET RAILWAY.

(Application led Jan. 21, 1901.) (No Model.) S'Sheets-Sheet 4,.

' No. 689,653, Patented Dec. 24, fsm,

w. B. sAYns. 4 ELECTRIC TRMWAYI'ORSTBEET RAILWAY.

(Application led Jan. 21, 1901.)

(N0 Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5..

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM BROOKS SAYERS, OF GLASGOV, SCOTLAND.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY OR STREET-RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 689,653, datedDecember 24, 1901.`

Application tiled January 2lI 1901. Serial No. 44,018. (No model.)

T0 all whom it nung concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BROOKS SAYERS, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain,residing at Glasgow, in-the county of Lanark, Scotland,have invented Improvements in or Relating to Electric Tramways orStreet-Railways, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention has for its object to avoid the difficulties, such as thecorrosion of water or other pipes or othermetallic structures buried inthe earth and the disturbance of telegraph or telephone circuits andelectrical and magnetic apparatus by stray or leakage currents from therails, that at present arise in connection with those systems ofelectric tramways or street-railways in which the main or supplyconductors are overhead and the track-rails are employed for thereturn-conductor. For this purpose, according to the present invention,the return-conductor of an overhead or trolley system'of electrictramways or streetrailways is carried on insulators in a small open-slotconduit which may be separate from and laid parallel to the track-railsor be formed by and between one of the track-rails and a separate rail,a slider or brush carried by the car and extending through the slot inthe conduit being adapted to make contact with the insulatedreturn-conductor, so as to electrically connect-the sameV to oneterminal of the car-motors, the other terminal of which is connectedthrough the trolley or otherY means with the overhead conductor, thereturn-conductor being earthed at a point preferabl y at or near thegeneratin gstation when a continuous-current supply is employed, or atthe transforming or sub station when power is generated at a distanceand is delivered to the transforming or sub station at a higher pressurethan that which is used on the line, so that the difference of potentialin each case between the return-conductor and the sides of theconduit-is limited to or is not greater than that due to the fall ofpotential in the said return conductor. In consequence,

therefore, of the small difference of potential between thereturn-conductor and the conduit andof the fact that a small andtherefore comparatively inexpensive construction of conduit can be usedthe objections such as have heretofore been raised to the employment ofan open-slot conduit system disappear.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure 1 shows insideelevation, and Fig. 2 in cross-section on the line A A of Fig. 1,part of an electric tramway with car according to this invention. Fig. 3shows the return-conductor, conduit, and adjacent parts in crosssectionand to a larger scale than Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 shows in side elevationdifferent portions of the length of the inner side of the conduit withattached parts shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, and Fig 5 is a correspondingpart plan. Figs. 6, 7, and S are cross-sections showing modifiedconstructions. Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively across-section and a partf plan showing a further modified construction. ct a. are the ordinarytrack-rails, and b the overhead conductor, from which an electriccurrent is supplied througha trolley c, trolley-arm d, and connectionsto the electric motors on the car e in the ordinary manner.

f. is a special metallic return-conductor which may consist of a wire,strip, or bar of copper or other suitable metal of any desiredcross-section and which is ixed or strained on and supported byinsulated supports g in a small open-slot conduit h of suitable sectionlaid in the roadway parallel with the track-rails a, with its uppersurface level, or nearly so, with the surface of the roadway.

In Figs. 1 to 5 the conduit h is formed by and between one of thetrack-rails a and a separate guzard-railz', the flanged top of which isarranged to form with the top of the adjacent track-rail a an openslotl. The returnconductor f is supported at intervals of its length byclamps, each of which may conveniently consist of a pair of bars 0,pivoted against opposite sides of a ringp and caused 'to clamp thereturn-conductorf between two ot' their ends by operating a set-screwq,pass ing through one and abutting against the other of their oppositeends. The ringp and clamp are carried by an insulator g, that extendsthrough the guard-rail and is fixed in position by a pair of plates r,that enter an annular groove s in the insulator and are xed to the saidguard-rail. Boxes t, with removable covers, are provided for giving ac-IOO cess to the insulators and attached parts and through which suchinsulators and attached parts can be inserted and removed and throughwhich the clamps can be operated to grip or release thereturn-conductor. The return-conductor may conveniently be pulled tightby an endwise-adj ustable device u, Figs. L and 5, provided with arollerc, that engages the looped end w ot the said conductor. Thereturn-conductorf is or may be connected at suitable intervals toreturn-feeders m for limiting the dilference of potential between it andthe conduit h, the return-conductor or return conductor and feedersbeing earthed at one point, preferably at or near thegenerating-station, when a continuous-current supply is employed or atthe transforming or sub station when power is generated at a distanceand is delivered to the transforming or sub station at a higher pressurethan that which is used on the line, so that the difference of potentialin each case between the return-conductor and the sides of the conduitis limited to or is not greater than that due to the fall of potentialin the said return-conductor, as and for the purpose hereiubetorestated.

The traveling,r contact or brush whereby the motors on each car are keptin electrical connection with the return-conductor is carried by butinsulated from a thin support or hanger attach tothe car and extendingdown through the slot in the top of the conduit, the said contact orbrush being connected to the motors by one or more insulated conductors.

ln Figs. l to 5 the traveling brush 1 is carried by a hanger 2, somounted on the car e that it can turn about a longitudinal axis and bepressed sidewise against the return-conductorfby a spring 4 and can turnupward about a transverse axis and against the action of a spring 5 inthe event of the brush meeting an obstruction in the conduit. The brushis connected by an insulated conductor 6 to a terminal 9, that isconnected to the motors on the car.

As the conduit is small and does not extend much, if at all, below thebottom of the trackrails, it is evident that a conduit system accordingto this invention can be cheaply and strongly constructed and can besuitably connected to the drainage system of the roadway, soas toprevent its being flooded. Also it can be provided at intervals of itslength with boxes or 1eceptacles,into which dirt and other rubbish thatmayenter it can be readily transferred from time to time by suitablemeans, such as a rake or scraper, and from which such dirt or rubbishcan be withdrawn through openings at the top that are normally closed bycovers located in the roadway. Furthermore, it is not necessary that thereturnconductorf should be highly insulated, for no serions harm orinterruption to the traffic will result even it accidental connection bemade between the said conductor and the side of the conduit at somepoint through a piece track-rails a,the return-conductorf beingsupported at intervals therein, as before, by insulators g, providedwith clamps. The insulator g shown is fixed to the conduit by a gland orferrule 10, that is screwed into a holein the conduit,and each clampcomprises two jaws 10 and 11, carried, respectively, by a sleeve 12 anda rod 13, the former of which is tixed in the insulator and the latterof which can be drawn up by a nut 14, so as to clamp thereturn-conductor in position between the two jaws.

Fig. 7 shows another construction in which the conduit h is formed byand between one of the track-rails a, which is rolled plainfi. e., withatread only at its upper side-and a guard-rail ,thatis securedinposition in such a manner that there is formed between them a slottedconduit, the slot l of which serves also as a groove for the fianges ofthe carwheels that run over it. The insulated retu rn-conductorfis shownheld in position by a clamp and insulator, as in the construction shownin Fig. 6, the insulators being shown iixed to the guard-rail.

Fig. S shows another construction in which an ordinary track-rail ct isemployed in conjunction with a guard-rail i to form the conduit h, andthe return-conductorf is in the form of a metal plate placed ratherlower than the under side of the tread of the track-rail. Thisreturn-conductor or insulated plate is carried on distance bolts 11*,which pass through the track-rail ct, insulated plate f, and guard-railz', the holes through the conducting-plate f being provided with bushes12`i, of insulating material,and the bushes being secured and held inplace between the track and guard rails a and e' by distance pieces ornuts 131, of insulating material, on the distance-bolts 11:". Theinsulated plates may be bonded in the way that is common withtrack-rails when used as return-conductors and may be connected atintervals with return-feeders, so that the potential difference betweenthe return-conductor and conduit may be limited to the desired Value.

Figs. 9 and 10 show another construction in which the conduit h isformed by and between one of thc track-rails a and a guardrail i, as inFigs. 1 to 5, inclusive; but the insulators for supporting thereturn-conductor f each comprise an oil-insulator g, carried by a bolt16, formed in one with or secured IOO IIO

' through a hole 1S in 'the guard-rail c'.

to a carrying-bar 17, fixed to the upper part of the box t, the saidinsulator projecting The return-conductor f is iixed, as by soldering,to a carrier, such as ayokepiece 19, provided with a cross-piece 19 andnuts 20, whereby it is fixed around the insulatorg.

What I claim is- 1. In an overhead or trolley system of electrictramways or railways, an open-slot conduit arranged in the roadwayparallel to the track-rails, and a return-conductor that is supportedwithin butinsulated from said conduit and is earthed at one point,substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. In an overhead or trolley system of electric tramways or railways, anopen-slot conduit arranged in the roadway parallel to the track-railsand formed by and between one of the track-rails and a guard-railarranged adjacent thereto but so as to form a longitudinalslot betweenits upper end and the upper end of said track-rail, and areturn-conductor supported within but insulated from said conduit andearthed at one point, substantially as described.

3. In an overhead or trolley system of electric tramways or railways,the combination with an overhead supply-conductor, means for conductingelectricity therefrom to one pole of electric motors on a car, and atraveling contact or brush carried by said car and connected to theother pole of the motors, of an open-slot conduit arranged in theroadthe slot in which said traveling contact or brush passes, and areturn-conductor supl way parallel to the track-rails and through 35ported within but insulated from said conduit and against which saidcontact or brush can travel, said return-conductor being earthed at onepoint, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

4. In an overhead or trolley system of electric tramways or railways,the combination with an overhead supply-conductor, means for conductingelectricity therefrom to one Vpole of electric motors on a car, and atraveling contact or brush carried by said car and connected to theother pole of the motors and capable of turning sidewise about alongitudinal axis and upward about a transverse axis, ol" an open-slotconduit arranged in the roadway parallel to the track-rails and intowhich said traveling contact or brush extends, al return-conductorsupported within but insulated from said conduit and against which saidtraveling contact will bear, and return-feeders connected at intervalsto said return-conductor and earthedat one point, substantially asdescribed for the purpose specified.

Signed at Glasgow, Scotland, this 31st day of December, 1900. Y f

WILLIAM BRooKs sAYERs.

Witnesses:

GEO. McDoNALL, JOHN M. MACNAIR.

